Unfortunately, none of the happened. The deregulation bill did not give us choice, to the contrary, it allowed two entities CL&P and UI, to have private monopolies over a public service.

We pay some of the highest electric rates in the country.

Profits and profit taking were placed over basic maintenance of things like tree clearing, maintenance workers, and infrastructure improvements.

There is no choice in the delivery electricity to our homes and businesses, most of us have CL&P a few of us have IU, none of us can switch companies after the latest debacle.

Competition in the market place does lower costs for consumers and demands companies deliver exceptional customer service.

Right now, we have the worst of both worlds:

A highly regulated monopoly that is privately owned.

The Legislature should reopen the deregulation bill to create a true open system, encourage competition in the market place so consumers have choices of suppliers. Similar to they way in many parts of the state you can chose ATT-Uverse, Cable, Dish, and soon Fios for the delivery of your TV signal. That system has allowed consumers to leverage pricing and service for the best of both.

Or the Legislature can restore the delivery of electricity to the way it was in the past. A highly regulated public utility managed by the State of Connecticut.

Both options have their pro’s and con’s. But the current system is indefensible to the residents of Connecticut.